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BLS Report: Job openings fall to 7.1 million in February; hires and separations little changed
People come; people go.
This is JOLTS, the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. It comes out a few days after the monthly payroll employment report.
Job openings fall to 7.1 million in February; hires and separations little changed
Economic News Release USDL-19-0610
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary
For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Technical information: (202) 691-5870 • JoltsInfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/jlt
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov
JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – FEBRUARY 2019
The number of job openings fell to 7.1 million on the last business day of February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires and separations were little changed at 5.7 million and 5.6 million, respectively. Within separations, the quits rate was unchanged at 2.3 percent and the layoffs and discharges rate was little changed at 1.2 percent. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the nonfarm sector by industry and by four geographic regions.
Job Openings
On the last business day of February, the job openings level fell to 7.1 million (-538,000). The job openings rate was 4.5 percent. The number of job openings fell for total private (-523,000) and was little changed for government. Job openings decreased in a number of industries, with the largest decreases in accommodation and food services (-103,000), real estate and rental and leasing (-72,000), and transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-66,000). The number of job openings fell in the Northeast, South, and Midwest regions. (See table 1.)
Hires
The number of hires was little changed at 5.7 million in February. The hires rate was 3.8 percent. The hires level was little changed for total private and fell for government (-40,000). The number of hires decreased in construction (-73,000), nondurable goods manufacturing (-33,000), and state and local government education (-22,000). The number of hires was little changed in all four regions. (See table 2.)
Separations
Total separations includes quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Total separations is referred to as turnover. Quits are generally voluntary separations initiated by the employee. Therefore, the quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’ willingness or ability to leave jobs. Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the employer. Other separations includes separations due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers to other locations of the same firm.
The number of total separations was little changed at 5.6 million in February. The total separations rate was 3.7 percent. The number of total separations was little changed for total private and for government. Total separations increased in educational services (+30,000), but decreased in nondurable goods manufacturing (-32,000) and real estate and rental and leasing (-26,000). The number of total separations was little changed in all four regions. (See table 3.)
The number of quits was little changed in February at 3.5 million. The quits rate was 2.3 percent. The quits level was little changed for total private and for government. Quits increased in educational services (+23,000) but decreased in real estate and rental and leasing (-15,000). The number of quits was little changed in all four regions. (See table 4.)
The number of layoffs and discharges was little changed in February at 1.7 million. The layoffs and discharges rate was 1.2 percent. The layoffs and discharges level was little changed for total private and for government. The number of layoffs and discharges decreased in federal government (-4,000). The number of layoffs and discharges was little changed in all four regions. (See table 5.)
The number of other separations was little changed in February. The other separations level was little changed for total private and edged up for government (+9,000). Other separations increased in federal government (+5,000), but decreased in construction (-13,000) and real estate and rental and leasing (-6,000). The number of other separations fell in the South region. (See table 6.)
Net Change in Employment
Large numbers of hires and separations occur every month throughout the business cycle. Net employment change results from the relationship between hires and separations. When the number of hires exceeds the number of separations, employment rises, even if the hires level is steady or declining. Conversely, when the number of hires is less than the number of separations, employment declines, even if the hires level is steady or rising. Over the 12 months ending in February, hires totaled 69.3 million and separations totaled 66.6 million, yielding a net employment gain of 2.7 million. These totals include workers who may have been hired and separated more than once during the year.
____________
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey results for March 2019 are scheduled to be released on Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).
Economic News Release USDL-19-0610
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary
For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Technical information: (202) 691-5870 • JoltsInfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/jlt
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov
JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – FEBRUARY 2019
The number of job openings fell to 7.1 million on the last business day of February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires and separations were little changed at 5.7 million and 5.6 million, respectively. Within separations, the quits rate was unchanged at 2.3 percent and the layoffs and discharges rate was little changed at 1.2 percent. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the nonfarm sector by industry and by four geographic regions.
Job Openings
On the last business day of February, the job openings level fell to 7.1 million (-538,000). The job openings rate was 4.5 percent. The number of job openings fell for total private (-523,000) and was little changed for government. Job openings decreased in a number of industries, with the largest decreases in accommodation and food services (-103,000), real estate and rental and leasing (-72,000), and transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-66,000). The number of job openings fell in the Northeast, South, and Midwest regions. (See table 1.)
Hires
The number of hires was little changed at 5.7 million in February. The hires rate was 3.8 percent. The hires level was little changed for total private and fell for government (-40,000). The number of hires decreased in construction (-73,000), nondurable goods manufacturing (-33,000), and state and local government education (-22,000). The number of hires was little changed in all four regions. (See table 2.)
Separations
Total separations includes quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Total separations is referred to as turnover. Quits are generally voluntary separations initiated by the employee. Therefore, the quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’ willingness or ability to leave jobs. Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the employer. Other separations includes separations due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers to other locations of the same firm.
The number of total separations was little changed at 5.6 million in February. The total separations rate was 3.7 percent. The number of total separations was little changed for total private and for government. Total separations increased in educational services (+30,000), but decreased in nondurable goods manufacturing (-32,000) and real estate and rental and leasing (-26,000). The number of total separations was little changed in all four regions. (See table 3.)
The number of quits was little changed in February at 3.5 million. The quits rate was 2.3 percent. The quits level was little changed for total private and for government. Quits increased in educational services (+23,000) but decreased in real estate and rental and leasing (-15,000). The number of quits was little changed in all four regions. (See table 4.)
The number of layoffs and discharges was little changed in February at 1.7 million. The layoffs and discharges rate was 1.2 percent. The layoffs and discharges level was little changed for total private and for government. The number of layoffs and discharges decreased in federal government (-4,000). The number of layoffs and discharges was little changed in all four regions. (See table 5.)
The number of other separations was little changed in February. The other separations level was little changed for total private and edged up for government (+9,000). Other separations increased in federal government (+5,000), but decreased in construction (-13,000) and real estate and rental and leasing (-6,000). The number of other separations fell in the South region. (See table 6.)
Net Change in Employment
Large numbers of hires and separations occur every month throughout the business cycle. Net employment change results from the relationship between hires and separations. When the number of hires exceeds the number of separations, employment rises, even if the hires level is steady or declining. Conversely, when the number of hires is less than the number of separations, employment declines, even if the hires level is steady or rising. Over the 12 months ending in February, hires totaled 69.3 million and separations totaled 66.6 million, yielding a net employment gain of 2.7 million. These totals include workers who may have been hired and separated more than once during the year.
____________
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey results for March 2019 are scheduled to be released on Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).
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